Hernandez scores against Dutch and FA

New Manchester United striker Javier Hernandéz scored against Holland in a pre-World Cup friendly and with the FA for a work permit. A day after the 5′ 7″ striker headed home a consolation goal in Mexico’s 2-1 defeat to the Oranje, United was forced to plead ‘exceptional talent’ in order to secure the required home office documents.

22-year-old forward Hernandéz joins United on 1 July but it was dependent on the FA granting a work permit today. Typically non-EU nationals must have played at least 75 per cent of his country’s internationals over the past two years. It’s a criteria that the nine-cap striker falls well short of, forcing United to ask for special dispensation under the exceptional talent rule.

Strangely United called off the deal for Serbia youngster Adem Ljajić earlier this year, claiming that the FA is now reluctant to use the exceptional talent rule after widespread abuse.

While Untied supporters saw Hernandéz as a brief second-half substitute against England on Monday, the Guadalajara-born player scored his fifth goal in nine internationals against Bert van Marwijk’s Dutch side, with Mexico due to face France, South Africa and Uruguay in the World Cup Group A.